The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-02-24
CORPORAL JOHN.

Capt. Duval, 1.-The Devil take those
Mexican brigands. Why, their mode
Of warfare is worse than anything |
ever saw in Algiersr'
Capt. Duval had won a medal as a
gallant officer in the foreign legion,
and had been transferred at his own
request to Bazaine's command III Mex
leo. But in his new field of service he
had won few laurels Maximilian's i'll
starred reign was nearing its end, and
Capt Duyal found himself fighting
against overwhelming odds.
What CALLED the chivalric Frenchman
more than anything else was the fact
that his military education was worth
little to him in this semi-barbarous
land, where the people reSorted to a
bushwhacking warfare. On his scout
ING expedition into Sonora he had lost
half of his men without once seeing
the enemy On the march, and around
the campfire at night, the soldiers
were picked off one by one b. unseen
sharpshoOters who seemed to defy dis
covery and pursuit.
And now another man had been kill
ed. What was to be done?
Send Corporal John to me-" said
the Captain, coming to the door of his
tent.
In few moments Corporal John ap-
peared. He was a stalwart young fell
low, with an honest American face.
His soldierly bearing was that of a
veteran. Although mere youth, he
had been trained in wars toughest
school. AT the downfall of the Con-
federacy he had made his way across
the Rio Grande, still wearing his faded
gray jacket, and had joined Maximil-
ian ; army.
Corporal John wore his French uni
form gracefully, but the lingo of his
comrades was too much for him, and
this made him a little uneasy in the
presence of his Captain.
My American friend" said Duval,
''you have fought bushwhackers!"
Yes, Captain
And sharpshooters?"
Yes, Captain"
"And brigands?'
Yes, Captain
''And all sorts of devils, I doubt not.
Wen, then, Corporal John, what did
you do with them when you caught
thcm?"
Click
The significant sound, made by a
peculiar working Of the corporal $
mouth, arrested the Frenchman's at
tentiOn.
Good" he calculated. You shot
them on the spot?'
1--WE led them out into the bushes, )"
said the corporal. land lost them.
And they We're never found again.
Cickw
Very WELL" said Duval with sat
isfied look. ''On the principle of set
ting thief to catch thief l propose
to turn these assassins over to you. On
the march tomorrow take few pick
ed men and watch every suspicious
place. II you find any human being in
ambush with arms in his hands shoot
him. If the case calls for investiga-
ton it will be looked into later. Our
first duty is self-preservation.
1T shall be DONE" replied Corporal
John, as he retired.
1t was nearly sundown the next day
when Corporal John and two of his
men plunged into a dense and tangled
| thicket little off their line of march.
The corporal was sure that he had seen
something run to cover and he found
that he was not mistaken.
But this prisoner, with his arm
around the neck of his little mustang
was no ordinary bushwhacker. When
the two soldiers seized him Corporal
John saw before him boy of about IS,
a handsome, spirited-looking young
ster, in citizens dress and armed with
light rifle. Trembling and flushing
| by turns, the prisoner flashed his black
eyes defantly, and cried out:
''Unhand ME, seniors! | will not sub
nit to this outrage"
He spoke in Spanish, and the cor
| poral understood this language much
better than he did French.
'.Who are You. and what are you do
ing here?" he asked sternly.
The little Mexican drew himself up
| haughtily.
''It is no crime to hunt" he replied
Il am not a soldier. See, | wear no
uniform. Why am l treated in this
way? Restore my rife and my mus
tang and let me proceed on my way"
1t was wonderfully sweet voice and
it had an imperious ring in it. Corporal
John wavered a moment, but one of
the men spoke up:
"A cursed brigand and caught with
arms in his hands in ambush. Re
member the Captains order"
Il will take him down to the river
and finish him myself" said the cor
poral, grimly. Il can't take you two
| from the road at present Keep your
'7ssts uassas7'